HPV & Genital Warts Treatment
What is HPV?
Many of you may have heard of the HPV virus via the
internet, papers and television, but not everyone is
aware of what the HPV virus actually is.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that can
be sexually transmitted. There are currently over
one hundred known sub types of HPV and about thirty
of these sub types affect both male and female
genitalia. People can be infected with conditions
such as genital warts and in more serious cases
cancer.
HPV can be spread through sexual skin-to-skin
contact. This means that penetration is not required
to be infected by the virus. Vaginal and anal
intercourse are also methods of HPV transmission.
You can contract HPV from having oral sex, however
it is less common.
Symptoms and detecting HPV
Detecting HPV can be difficult as in many cases
there aren’t any symptoms. In some cases a person
may show symptoms by developing genital warts. This
may not occur in all people who are carrying the HPV
virus as genital warts are just one strand of the
infection. Some people may be affected by this
strand of HPV for many years before displaying
genital warts and some may never contract them at
all. Detecting HPV can therefore be very difficult
as symptoms are few and far between.
Women who are infected with the strand of the HPV virus which is connected to cervical cancer do not usually experience symptoms at all. A cervical smear is a very useful way to detect abnormal cervical changes caused by HPV.
Genital warts,
Condyloma Acuminata
Genital warts are one of the most common types of
sexually transmitted diseases and also referred to
as venereal warts or condyloma
acuminate.Anogenital warts are caused by human
papillomaviruses (HPVs) which are transmitted
through oral, anal, and genital sexual contact with
rare cases of autoinoculation and vertical
transmission have been reported.
HPV types are classified into high-,
intermediate-, and low-risk group. Genital HPV
infection is closely linked to cancer of the cervix,
glans penis, anus, vulvovaginal area, and periungual
skin. Cancer occurs when there is an integration of
the HPV genome into the host DNA.
In most persons, genital HPV infection
appears to be transient, lasting about 1–2 years and
results in no sequelae. In a small proportion, about
2% of immunocompetent persons, the infection
persists, and in a small proportion of those with
persistent HPV infection, cancer may develop.
Genital warts are sexually transmitted and therefore
other sexually transmitted diseases may be found in
patients with genital warts. A complete history
should be taken and the patient screened for other
STDs. The whole genital area should be carefully
examined because external genital wart infection is
often multifocal. Women with EGWs should have a
routine cervical cytological screening to detect
cervical dysplasia, but the presence of EGWs alone
does not require more frequent Pap smear More
Detailss or gynecologic evaluation. Risk factors
included: early age of starting sexual relation,
number of sexual partners, unprotected sex,
infection by other STD at the same time,and
immunosuppression, especially in a patient infected
with HIV.
Genital warts are often asymptomatic but may cause
discomfort, discharge, or bleeding. The typical
lesion is soft, pink, elongated, and sometimes
filiform or pedunculated. The lesions are usually
multiple, especially on moist surface and their
growth can be accelerated with pregnancy.
Genital warts Treatment
Large malodorous masses may form on vulvar and
perianal skin. This classical acuminate (sometimes
called papillomatous or hyperplastic) form
constitutes about two-thirds of anogenital warts.
The most common sites of the posterior fourchette
correspond to the likely site of greater coital
friction. Most other lesions are flat and some of
these generally on nonmucosal surfaces such as the
pubic skin, perianal skin, and groin, may be
sufficiently pigmented. The primary goal of
treatment of genital warts is to eradicate or reduce
the symptom.
How Genital Warts Are Treated
Warts may recur after treatment because of the
activation of latent virus present in healthy skin
adjacent to the lesion. Several treatment options
are developed for eradication of genital warts.
Pharmacological therapy includes topical application
of podophyllin, podofilox, 5-fluorouracil, and
trichloroacetic acid (TCA) have had unsatisfactory
results.Local skin reaction and pain are common
adverse effects. None of these drugs have been shown
uniformly effective or directly antiviral.
Surgical techniques with the exception of cryosurgery, these modalities usually have the common advantage of complete treatment following one application. By electrosurgery removal of a very large mass of warts is a painful procedure, best performed with the patient under either general or spinal anesthesia. Pain after surgery is common. Carbon dioxide laser vaporization is typically used for treatment of refractory HPV disease or extensive warts of the anogenital mucosal category and is particularly useful in the treatment of periurethral and vaginal warts. It is the treatment of choice for pregnant women with extensive lesions or lesions that do not respond to TCA. Carbon dioxide laser therapy is an efficient therapeutic modality because of its precision and rapid healing without scarring.
Treating HPV-Related Cancers in Other Parts of the
Body
In addition to causing cervical cancer, HPV can
cause several other types of cancer:
• Anal cancer
• Oropharyngeal cancer
• Penile cancer
• Vaginal cancer
• Vulvar cancer
At present, there are no established screening guidelines for HPV-related cancers other than cervical cancer, so typically these cancers are found only when they cause symptoms, and treatment is based on the stage of the cancer when it is detected.
Treatment for Precancerous Cervical Changes
In women, some types of HPV can cause the growth of
precancerous cells on the surface of the cervix —
known as cervical dysplasia — which can lead to
cervical cancer.
Nearly all cases of cervical cancer are caused by
HPV, with 70 percent of cervical cancer cases
resulting from HPV types 16 and 18, according to the
CDC.
Getting regular Pap or HPV tests raises the
likelihood of catching cervical dysplasia early, and
removing precancerous growths can help prevent
cervical cancer from developing.
Severe cervical dysplasia is treated with one of several types of surgical procedures, including:
• Cryosurgery
• Laser therapy
• Cold knife conization (or cold knife cone biopsy), in which a cone-shaped piece of abnormal cervical tissue is removed with a scalpel or laser knife
• Electrosurgery
If cervical dysplasia has progressed to cervical cancer, a woman may be advised to have a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus), or to undergo radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or both.
HPV Vaccination
Safe effective vaccinations against HPV should
ideally be performed before a girl is sexually
active. There is a nationwide screening program that
should be offered through schools however if you or
your daughter would like to discuss this further
please do not hesitate to contact us.
Types of vaccinations available include Gardisil & Cervarex
How to Prevent Common Skin Warts
HPV is ubiquitous, meaning it’s found everywhere, so
it may be impossible to prevent all warts.
But you can lower your risk by following these
common-sense suggestions:
• Don’t bite your nails or pick at hangnails.
• Don’t scratch or pick at existing warts.
• Don’t touch other people’s warts.
• Don’t share razors, towels, socks, or shoes with other people.
• Wear flip-flops or shower sandals in public showers, locker rooms, and around swimming pools to avoid getting plantar warts.
• If you have a plantar wart, wear slippers or shoes around the house to avoid spreading them to others.
• Keep any warts on your feet dry, as moisture encourages them to spread.
Full Sexual health screening
We offers a full sexual health screening and this
includes:
• Chlamydia
• HPV
• HSV Type2
• Gonorrhea
• HIV
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• Syphilis.
“Our practice is built on single premise: the highest quality care.” – Op.Dr.Nevra / Gynecologist
